Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 3, 1993 TAG: 9308030029
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOUISVILLE, COLO. LENGTH: Short
The Colorado Golf Association says it is testing a machine capable of detecting pre-lightning conditions and nearby lightning strikes. The association is taking the Stormaster equipment, marketed by American Lightning Protection of Louisville, to all its major tournaments on a trial basis.
"Every time that machine has gone off it's been pretty much right on," said the association's executive director, Warren Simmons.
The equipment was in use during last month's U.S. Senior Open Golf Tournament at Cherry Hills Country Club and recently scanned the afternoon skies during the 30th Colorado Open at the Inverness Golf Club.
"Golfers out there holding and swinging metal clubs become, in effect, a lightning rod attracting the lightning," Kevin Bergschneider, commercial vice president for ALP Inc., said.
Just ask Trevino, who's been hit by lighting several times on the golf course.
The machine, which sells for less than $7,000, measures the electric-field strength in the vicinity and sounds a warning alarm when lightning occurs within 6 to 9 miles of the antenna.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.